Shelter structure

ABSTRACT

A shelter structure having a tubular metal framework, surface contacting means hingeably connected to the framework, and a covering over the framework. The surface contacting means may include release means consisting of a bolt threaded through the surface contacting means and adapted to break the surface contacting means away from a surface in contact therewith.

United States Patent [191 Rasmussen 1 Sept. 25, 1973 1 SHELTER STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Noble C. Rasmussen, 711 19th St.,

West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 188,278

[52] US. Cl. 135/1 R, 135/3 R, 135/4 R [51] Int. Cl. A45f 1/16 [58] Field of Search 135/4 R, 4 A, 1 R,

135/5 R, 3 R, 7.1 R, 3 E, 15 PE, 15 CF; 254/98; 29/256; 249/66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,839,069 6/1958 Hickman 135/4 R 2,930,387 3/1960 Streich et a1.... 135/1 A 3,072,920 1/1963 Yellott 135/1 R 3,055,380 9/1962 Benka et a1. 135/4 R 1,617,435 2/1927 Coleman et a1 135/3 R 3,242,935 3/1966 Williams 135/4 R 2,717,160 /1955 Schmidt et al. 135/4 R 2,894,311 1 7/1959 Sinclair 249/66 1,879,400 9/1932 Mitchell 249/71 2,232,651 2/1941 Binford 249/72 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Conrad L. Berman At!0rneyHenderson & Strom 5 7 ABSTRACT A shelter structure having a tubular metal framework. surface contacting means hingeably connected to the framework, and a covering over the framework. The surface contacting means may include release means consisting of a bolt threaded through the surface contacting means and adapted to break the surface contacting means away from a surface in contact therewith.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shelter structures, and more specifically to lightweight, easily transported structures which are easily assembled and disassembled, and which are securely and releaseably held in position for use. The shelter structures of this invention are particularly suited for ice fishermen.

Many attempts have been made in the past to provide a shelter structure which is convenient for use by ice fishermen. For example, US. Pat. Nos. 2,717,160; 2,839,069 and 2,891,562 each describe a shelter for this purpose. While these prior art shelters have been successful to some degree, a need has nevertheless long existed for a shelter which is light in weight,.easily assembled and disassembled, easily transported, and which may be securely and releaseably held in place. Such a shelter is provided by this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a shelter structure is provided which has a framework, surface contacting means hingeably attached to the framework, and a covering over the framework forming a substantially enclosed shelter.

While the invention is particularly suited to an ice fishing shelter, and includes certain features specifically directed to a shelter for ice fishing, nevertheless in its broader aspects the invention has utility for shelters for other purposes. For example, a shelter in accordance with this invention might be used as a portable beach hut.

The invention broadly comprises a shelter having a framework, preferably of lightweight tubular metal, and a covering over the framework to provide an enclosed shelter. The framework includes surface contacting means, such as footings, which are hinged in a manner that allows the shelter to be tilted over for purposes of entrance and egress.

The footings are preferably formed of a lightweight, heat-conducting material for reasons to be explained below. Release means are provided for breaking the footings away from anice surface when it is desired to move the shelter.

The covering over the framework may be formed of any suitable material, and the choice of covering depends partly on the intended use of the shelter as will be pointed out.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved shelter structurewhich is lightweight, easily assembled and disassembled, and easily transported.

It is a further object to provide a shelter which can be securely and releasably held on a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a shelter structure in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation showing the framework of FIG. 6 is a side elevation taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation, partially broken away, taken along line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a shelter in accordance with the invention, in the upright position; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a shelter in accordance with the invention, in the tilted-over position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the several figures of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a shelter 10 including a covering 11 over a framework 12 (FIGS. 2-4). In accordance with the embodiment of this invention directed to a shelter for use when fishing through a hole cut in ice, the covering 11 includes a window 13 of suitable transparent material. The covering itself may be formed of any suitable material. A preferred material is a reinforced polymeric sheet material of which many types are readily available. The covering 11 preferably has a reflective inner surface which aids in retaining body heat and/or heat generated from a heater. The reflective inner surface also aids visibility inside the shelter. The outer surface of covering 11 is preferably a bright color such that the shelter is readily visible on a snowy surface. This visibility is useful in the event of the need of a search and rescue operation, aids the fishermen in relocating the structure if they leave the vicinity of the shelter, and lowers the chances of the shelter being run into by snowmobiles or the like.

The covering 11 also includes one or more sections of ventilating material 14. The ventilating material 14 is preferably at the upper portions of each side 'of the covering 1]. Suitable breathable or air pervious ventilating material is readily available. A polymeric sheet material having numerous very small perforations is preferred, as such material provides adequate ventilation without allowing significant wind effects to be felt inside the shelter.

Conventional snaps, such as one at the lower part of each of the corner members 23-26, may be provided for positively holding the covering 11 in place over the framework 12.

The shelter depicted in the drawings is square in plan view. While a rectangular (including square) configuration is preferred, it will be apparent that other configurations could be utilized.

The framework 12 of the preferred embodiment includes four lower horizontal members l5, l6, l7 and 18, four upper horizontal members 19, 20, 21 and 22, four upstanding corner members 23, 24, 25 and 26 joining the lower and upper horizontal members, and a pair of upstanding members 27 and 28 extending from two of the upper horizontal members to a horizontal roof-supporting member 29.

The manner of joining the framework members together is illustrated in FIGS. Sand 7. As shown therein,

the end of lower horizontal member 15 is swaged down at its end so that it is insertable in the open end of corner connecting member 30. Corner connecting member 30 in turn is welded to upstanding corner member 23. It will be apparent that many alternative techniques are available for connecting the various framework pieces. The framework pieces may be formed, for example, of inch aluminum tubing with a wall thickness of 0.035 inches.

Surface contacting means 31 is shown in detail in FIGS. and 6. As shown therein, a footing 32 is provided with an upstanding extension 33 welded thereto. The extension 33 is hingeably connected to the lower end of upstanding corner member 23 by roll pin 34 which passes through matching openings in member 23 and extension 33. A hole 35 is provided in footing 32 and may be used for pinning or otherwise securing the footing to a surface, although pins or other securing means are normally not needed for operation of the shelter in the preferred manner.

A second hole 36, which is threaded, extends through footing 32 and holds a threaded bolt 37 therein. Preferably bolt 37 is of the wingnut type which can be operated without tools. The threaded hole 36 and cooperating bolt 37 provide a means for breaking the footing away from an ice surface 38 to which the footing 32 is secured in a manner to be explained below. It has been found that turning bolt 37 until its end contacts ice surface 38 breaks the footing 32 loose from the ice surface 38. The bolt 37 will not penetrate ice, so continued turning of the bolt results in raising the footing 32 relative to the ice surface 38, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

In the preferred embodiment, two surface contacting means 31 are used, one on each of two adjacent corners of the shelter.

According to one variation of the preferred embodiment, specifically adapted to use of the shelter for spear fishing, the inner surface of the covering 11 is solid black, and the window 13 is eliminated. ln spear fishing, a totally dark shelter is needed so that an occupant can see below the ice surface. This is sometimes augmented by dropping a white material, such as crushed egg shells, down through the ice hole to provide a light background which aids in silhouetting a fish between the light background and the ice surface. This version of the invention may include a hood (not shown) over the ventilating material 14 so that not even the slight amount of light transmittable through 14 will be allowed inside the shelter.

Obviously, dark covers for spear fishing and reflective covers for regular ice fishing can be interchangeable on the framework 12 so that an user could alternate the types of fishing during an outing. A shelter constructed as described above has a total weight of less than six pounds, so that carrying an extra covering is no problem.

The use of a shelter in accordance with this invention will now be described for an ice fishing operation. As a first step, a location is selected, and the framework 12 is assembled by connecting the various elements thereof. A hole is then cut in the ice. The footings 31 are then positioned, preferably on the upwind side so that the wind will tend to force the shelter closed. The footings 31 may be secured by suitable pins (not shown) through holes 35, but preferably are secured by pouring water from the previously cut hole in the ice around the edges of the footings. The water will immediately freeze and form a securing ridge shown as 39 in FIG. 6. The covering 11 is then placed over the framework 12 and snapped into place. In severe conditions, it may be desirable to pack snow around the lower edge of the covering 11, at least on the upwind side. The covering 1 1 preferably does not have a door, as the use of a door would require a zipper or other type opening which is troublesome in icy conditions, and the shelter 10 is tilted over as shown in FIG. 9 to allow entrance into it. Once in position, the user rotates the shelter about the hinged connections to cover himself with the shelter. The shelter is again tilted over when the user wants out. It should be clear that the sequence of steps recited above might be varied to suit particular conditions or users preferences.

When it is desired to remove the shelter, the previous steps are essentially reversed. The footings 31 are released from the ice surface 38 by turning the bolts 37 until the footing 31 breaks away from the ice surface.

The invention has been described above according to the preferred embodiment thereof. It will be apparent that numerous modifications, both in the structure and the use thereof, could be made without departing from the true scope of the invention, which is to be defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shelter structure adapted for use on ice when fishing, comprising:

a framework including a plurality of lower horizontal members joined together, a plurality of upper horizontal members joined together, and a plurality of upstanding members connecting the lower and upper horizontal members;

footing means including surface contacting means adapted to be fixedly secured on the ice, means hingeably connecting said footing means to the framework, and said surface contacting means having a threaded opening therethrough; and release means comprising a blunt-ended threaded bolt extending through said threaded opening, said bolt adapted to bear against the ice in order to break the surface contacting means away from the ice;

and a covering supported by the framework and forming asubstantially enclosed shelter therewith.

2. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein said means hingeably connecting said footing means to the framework are attached to the lower ends of two adjacent upstanding members, and the threaded bolts therethrough have wingnut heads.

3. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein the covering includes a reflective inner surface and a portion of the covering is an air pervious material.

4. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein the covering is impervious to light, has a black inner surface, and

includes a hooded air pervious section. 

1. A shelter structure adapted for use on ice when fishing, comprising: a framework including a plurality of lower horizontal members joined together, a plurality of upper horizontal members joined together, and a plurality of upstanding members connecting the lower and upper horizontal members; footing means including surface contacting means adapted to be fixedly secured on the ice, means hingeably connecting said footing means to the framework, and said surface contacting means having a threaded opening therethrough; and release means comprising a blunt-ended threaded bolt extending through said threaded opening, said bolt adapted to bear against the ice in order to break the surface contacting means away from the ice; and a covering supported by the framework and forming a substantially enclosed shelter therewith.
 2. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein said means hingeably connecting said footing means to the framework are attached to the lower ends of two adjacent upstanding members, and the threaded bolts therethrough have wingnut heads.
 3. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein the covering includes a reflective inner surface and a portion of the covering is an air pervious material.
 4. The shelter structure of claim 1 wherein the covering is impervious to light, has a black inner surface, and includes a hooded air pervious section. 